Trim assembly



M. STUBNITZ TRIM ASSEMBLY Nov; 3, 1936.

Filed Dec. 6, 1955 INVENTOR. ma/c5 v.rz/,/v/rz EYS,

l @Mil Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNIT-ED STATES PATE'I PHE TRIM ASSEMBLY Maurice Stubnitz, Adrian, Mich., assignor to Stublnitz-Grreene Spring Corporation, Adrian, Mich., a corporation of Michigan I Application December e claims.

This invention relates to a trim assembly and -more particularly to a trim assembly for a spring lcushion seat. i

It is an kobject of this invention to produce a trim assembly in which the trim material is effectively secured to the supporting frame with greater vfacility and lesser cost than in trim assemblies heretofore known.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary `vertical section through `a seat. y l Fig. 2 `is `affragmentary horizontal section "through aseat showing the spacing of the slats and trim retainers.

Fig. 3 is a detail" showing of a retainer being forced into theframe pocket. Fg.`4 is a detail of a modified form of a retainer.

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing there is shown a seat assembly comprising a kframe I which in section is substantiallyfinthe `form of a reversed J or inverted question mark. This frame I,vwhich is preferably a continuous length of rolled metal, extends completely around the seat bottom and is reinforced by slats 2 which extend in a fore and aft direction between the front and rear transverse portions of the seat frame. The slats 2 are provided with a return bent flange 3 at each end which is fitted over the upper edge of the frame member. Thereafter corresponding depressions 4 and 5 are `pressed into the return bent portion 3 and frame portion I to lock the slats to the frame. The frame is offset as at 2li so that the outside lip of the return bent portion 3 is flush with the outer surface of the frame member I and thus secured against lateral displacement.

The slats support the usual coil springs 6 which in turn support the padding material 'I. The cushion material 1 is covered with any suitable trim material 8 such as fabric or leather.

The invention is particularly concerned with the means for securing the trim 8 to the frame I. The frame I, as specified above, is in the form of a reverse J and is preferably made from steel having some spring action so that the lower portion of the frame forms a longitudinally extending spring pocket 9 having a mouth I0. The trim 8 is lapped around the outside of the pocket 9, then over the edge and positioned along the inside of the pocket as at II. It will be noted that the edge portion II of the trim 8 is raw. This has a material advantage in that no accurate measurement of the size of the trim material is necessary in order to properly iit the edge 6, 1935, Serial No. 53,142

portion II within the pocket 9. In other words, where the trim is provided with a beaded or corded edge, such as is well-known in the art, an absolutely accurate measurement of the size of the trim and the frame must be had to secure an accurate fit between the trim and the frame. By making it possible to use the raw edge of the trim material'this accurate measurement of the trim 8 relative to the seat frame is obviated. To retain the edge portion II of the trim within the pocket 9 it is proposed to use a rod of any suitable cross section, such as a cylindrical rod I2. This rod I2 may be in Aa continuous length approximately equal to the length of the side member of the frame I in conjunction with which it is used. However, preferably each rod member is approximately an inch long. By making each rod I2 such a short length the assembly of the rod in the pocket 9 is facilitated.

Thel diameter of each rod II is a little larger than the mouth IIl of the pocket 9 of the frame I so that necessarily the pocket 9 is sprung outwardly duringthe insertion of the rod I I through the4 mouthV Illinto the pocket and the rod'is resiliently or yieldably held in the pocket 9 due to the spring action of the steel from which the frame is made. This spring engagement between the rod II and the pocket 9 securely retains the rod within the pocket.

It is very important in a spring cushion seat of this type in which the seat springs 6 are constantly being loaded and unloaded and the rebound and tension of the springs are carried by the trim 8, to securely bind or tie the trim 8 to the franre I. This is achieved by forming the outer surface of each rod II so that it will bite into and rmly grip the trim material. This result may be achieved in several ways such as by longitudinally serrating the rod I2 as at I3 (Figs. 2 and 3) or by providing the rod with circumferential serrations 2l (Fig. (l) by knurling the outer surface of the rod, by threading the same or otherwise roughening the outer surface of the rod so that it will have a plurality of projections which bite into the edge portion Il of the trim material and securely tie it in the pocket 9 and to the frame I.

I claim:

1. In a spring cushion seat having a bottom frame member provided with a spring pocket, trim material for covering the seat springs and arranged to be drawn about the frame member and into the said pocket in overlapping relation with the spring pocket and a rod-like tie-down member the surface of which is provided with a plurality of projections, the said tie-down members having a diameter somewhat larger than the mouth of the pocket and arranged to be forced through the said mouth of the pocket into the said pocket to clamp the edge of the trim material to the said frame.

2. In a spring cushion seat having a bottom frame member provided with a spring pocket, trim material for covering the seat springs and arranged to be drawn about the frame member and in overlapping relation with the resilient pocket and a rod-like tie-down member, the surface of which is provided with a plurality of grooves, the said tie-down member having a diameter somewhat larger than the mouth of the pocket and arranged to be forced through the said mouth into the said pocket to clamp the edge of the trim material in said pocket and to the said frame.

3. In a seat cushion comprising a steel frame member having a spring action and a cross section in the form of a reversed J, a plurality of springs, and a web of trim material for covering the said springs and arranged to be drawn about the frame member and have its edge inserted in the pocket of the reverse J frame member, a rod having a grooved surface and a diameter somewhat larger than the mouth of the reversed J member arranged to be forced through the mouth of the frame member against the edge portion of the trim positioned in the said pocket whereby the pocket of the J frame is placed under tension and cooperates with the grooved rod to securely tie the trim material to the said frame.

4. In a spring seat cushion comprising a frame member of spring steel having a cross section in the form of a reversed J to form a pocket extending along the inside of the frame, a plurality of slats extending from one portion of the frame member to the opposite portion of the frame member for tying the two portions together, coil springs supported by said slats, trim material for covering the said springs and frame member arranged to have its edge portion wrapped around the outside of the frame member and positioned within the said pocket, a rod having a plurality of projections on its surface and a greater diameter than the width of the mouth of the pocket in the said reversed J frame member whereby the said rod can be forced through the mouth of the spring pocket member between two consecutive slats and cooperate with the spring action of the pocket member to securely tie the edge portion of the trim material in the said pocket.

5. In a spring seat cushion comprising a frame member of steel having a spring action and a cross section in the form of a reversed J to form a pocket extending along the inside of the frame, a plurality of slats extending from one frame portion to the opposite portion for tying the two portions together, coil springs supported by said slats, trim material having a raw edge for covering the said springs and frame member arranged to have its raw edge portion wrapped around the outside of the frame member and positioned Withinthe said pocket, a rod having a greater diameter than the width of the mouth of the pocket in the said reversed J frame member, the said rod having a plurality of serrations on its surface whereby the said rod can be forced through the mouth of the spring pocket member and cooperate with the spring action of the pocket member to securely tie the raw edge portion of the trim material in the said pocket.

6. A trim assembly comprising a metal frame member having a channel portion with spring walls spaced to form a mouth, trim material having an edge portion for insertion in the spring mouth of the frame member and a rod tie-down member the surface of which is provided with a plurality of projections, the said tie-down member having a diameter somewhat larger than the mouth of the pocket and arranged to be forced through the mouth of the pocket into the pocket to cooperate with the spring action of the spring channel walls and thereby clamp the edge of the trim material to the said frame.

MAURICE STUBNITZ. 

